Ikhlaq Sidhu

Affiliations include UC Berkeley, IE Sci-Tech, Qatar Foundation, and Rise Europe.

  • Dean & Professor, IE School of Science & Technology, in Madrid and Global

  • Senior Fellow, UC Berkeley IES, Focus Area Technology, People, and Policy

  • Founding Faculty Director, Chief Scientist, Fellow of UC Berkeley SCET

  • Chair, Think Tank Lab & IQ Lecture Series

  • Founding Chief Scientist, Engineering Leadership at Berkeley CFI, ELPP Faculty Lead

  • Academic, Author & Tech Entrepreneur

  • Internationally Renowned Scientist and Inventor with over 60 patents

  • Selected Board & Advisor Roles

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Ikhlaq Sidhu has been the Dean of the School of Science and Technology at IE University in Madrid since 2022 and the Founding Faculty Director and Chief Scientist of UC Berkeley’s Sutardja Center for Entrepreneurship & Technology since 2005. He co-developed the Berkeley Method of Entrepreneurship. He also created the ground-breaking Data-X program at Berkeley for data science with innovative applications and authored the book, "Innovation Engineering." He has been a prolific researcher with seminal work and over 60 patents in Internet communications, data, AI, and networks.

Sidhu received the IEEE Major Education Innovation Award in 2018, the Berkeley IEOR Emerging Area Professor Award in 2009, 3Com Corporation’s Inventor of the Year Award in 1999, and UC Berkeley's Extraordinary Teaching in Extraordinary Times Award in 2021. He also serves on selected advisory and board positions.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a master’s degree, and a doctorate in Electrical Engineering from Northwestern University. In 2023, he was awarded an honorary Ph.D. from Lund University’s Faculty of Engineering in Sweden.

About me:

My Areas are Technology, Entrepreneurship, and Engineering Leadership

For over twenty years, I have taught and advised the world’s top engineers, scientists, and executives on the technical skills, mindsets, and behaviors needed to innovate, lead, and commercialize technology.

I am currently doing this though:

  • Project-Based Learning 

  • Technology Leadership Programs 

  • IQ Series - connecting the dots between research, ventures, and industry

I Have developed:

  • The Berkeley Method of Entrepreneurship - developing the #1 entrepreneurial university in the world (pitchbook)

  • The Engineering Leadership Program for Google, Yahoo, Amazon, Cisco, SAP, VMWare, and many more

  • Data-X - a Berkeley program merging highly applied data science with entrepreneurship and innovation

  • A new polytechnic in Europe at IE School of Science & Technology that is inherently industry-connected, entrepreneurial, and global.

  • Over 60 patented technologies are used in Zoom, Netmeeting, Skype, and other Internet communications services.

Popular Lecture Topics:

  • Innovation Leadership with Mindset & Culture

  • Generative AI, ChatGPT Implications

  • Exponential Technology Trends

  • AI and Data Innovation & Strategy

  • Management in the Age of AI

  • Engineering Leadership

  • Berkeley Method of Entrepreneurship

I am Known For:

  • Communication networks, data, & AI: From seminal theory to product development, 60+ patents, and influence on Skype, NetMeeting, Zoom, WhatsApp, and Wireless mobility.

  • Berkley Method of Entrepreneurship and Berkeley Engineering Leadership: Developed methods to teach people how to innovate at Berkeley, including Berkley Method of Entrepreneurship, Data-X, 5G/AI Lab, and other innovation labs.

  • Dean of Science & Technology at IE in Madrid Creating the future of learning and research by connecting industry, ventures, and researchers.

Courses Topics

  • AI/Data/Technology:
    From Code to Demystification

  • Innovation Culture

  • Engineering Leadership

  • Tech Venture and Bootcamps

Functions & Analysis

  • CTO-Level Tech Platform Strategy

  • Venture Partner, Venture Advisor, and Due Diligence

  • Tech Trend Analysis

Guidance

  • Curriculum Design for Technology with Mindset for Innovation

  • Research guidance for Innovation Impact

  • Advisory and Formal Boards

Recent Talks:

  • Blockchain Regulation, State of the Union for EU, EUI, May 2024

  • Lead Session, Tech Venture Bootcamp, Madrid, IE Sci-Tech, April 2024

  • Invited Talk, Building a Next Generation, Entrepreneurially-Driven Polytechnic, Indian Institute of Sciences, Bangalore, April 2024

  • Key Speaker and Host, Rise Europe Summit, IE School of Science & Technology, Madrid, April 2024

  • Panel Session, CleanTech for Iberia Collider, IE School of Science & Technology, Madrid, April 2024

  • Session on Purpose and Profit in the Age of AI, Economist Business Impact Summit, London, March 2024

  • Ikhlaq Sidhu with John Maeda, Hay Festival, Sept 2023

  • Workshop: AI for Banking, Kuwait 2023

  • More Talks

Board Roles

  • Board of Directors, AOE Meta, since 2024.

  • Advisory Board, Future Brain, since 2024

  • Board of Directors, Center for Health & Well-being, IE University, Madrid, Since 2024

  • Board of Advisors, Prague School of Economics and Business (VSE) since 2022 

  • Advisory Board, Lund University X-Lab, since 2022

  • Advisory Board, BI Business School, Norway, since 2019

  • Board of Directors, Qatar Foundation, since 2019

  • Board of Trustees of the Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar, since 2016

  • Board Member, Fellow, Co-Founder, Applied Innovation Institute, since 7/ 2012 (501.3c)

Awards & Programs

Background and Full CV

  • Full CV

    Link to CV
    Dean & Professor, IE Sci-Tech
    Author: "Innovation Engineering"
    Berkeley Method, Data-X, 5G/AI
    Board roles and affilations

  • Publications & Patents

    Link to the Publication
    Data/AI
    Networks/ Systems
    Management Science
    Innovation Behaviors & Mindset

  • Awards

    Follow this Link to Recent News
    Honorary Ph.D. from Lund University in 2023
    IEEE Major Innovation Award in 2018
    Berkeley Extraordinary Teaching Award, 2022
    IEOR Emerging Area Professor Award in 2009
    3Com Corporation’s Inventor of the Year